Why Cogmed is Critical: Adderall Abuse Part 3

When ADHD meds are prescribed by a physician he or she provides information and oversight about the side effects and concerns about heart issues etc.  Not so with kids abusing these drugs.  Another difference between Ritalin or Adderall or most ADHD medicines is that in contrast to illegal drugs is there is the common assumption that since this isn’t cocaine and it is prescribed by doctors, that it cannot be a problem. The thinking is this:  “It must be much safer since doctors prescribe ADHD medications for kids all the time.” WRONG! 

Misconception:  ADHD medicines are safe because Physicians prescribe them.

As a matter of fact it is because there are substantial risks of adverse side effects and serious risk of addiction that these prescriptions drugs are monitored by physicians.  One wonders how the professional approval of ADHD drugs relates to what is clearly a trend of increasing ADHD drug abuse on campuses in the United States. 

Many researchers like Stanislav et al have found that (2007): 

“MPH (Ritalin) and similar medications (ADHD medicines) have been widely used on College campuses and by students preparing for exams. Nicknamed ’steroids for SATs,’ MPH and related medications are purchased without prescription and their use may even be encouraged by parents and tutors…. Use by those without any medical or psychiatric diagnosis is increasing.”1

This is the key point for parents:  ADHD/ADD medications are “widely used on College campuses” by people without a prescription, without a diagnosis and that abuse is very much on the rise.  There are a series of studies that have found this trend of ADHD medication abuse.  How does this affect you as a parent?  Your son or daughter who will be away at college will likely be out from under your daily supervision.  What to do then?  Well, preferably you sought out other options before your child with ADHD goes off to college. 

Parents: The Unwitting Distributers of Controlled Substances? How are those on college campuses getting Ritalin without a prescription?  Two ways:  Those kids who are diagnosed and prescribed the ADHD drugs are selling it. This is how the majority of ADHD drugs are distributed on college campuses.  However, some people are stealing prescriptions and selling them.  This is what you want to consider while your child is in high school as you prepare him to go to college.  He is a potential ADHD drug distributor.

As a matter of fact it is because there are substantial risks of adverse side effects and serious risk of addiction that these prescriptions drugs are monitored by physicians.  One wonders how the professional approval of ADHD drugs relates to what is clearly a trend of increasing ADHD drug abuse on campuses in the United States. 

Many researchers like Stanislav et al have found that (2007): 

“MPH (Ritalin) and similar medications (ADHD medicines) have been widely used on College campuses and by students preparing for exams. Nicknamed ’steroids for SATs,’ MPH and related medications are purchased without prescription and their use may even be encouraged by parents and tutors…. Use by those without any medical or psychiatric diagnosis is increasing.”1

This is the key point for parents:  ADHD/ADD medications are “widely used on College campuses” by people without a prescription, without a diagnosis and that abuse is very much on the rise.  There are a series of studies that have found this trend of ADHD medication abuse.  How does this affect you as a parent?  Your son or daughter who will be away at college will likely be out from under your daily supervision.  What to do then?  Well, preferably you sought out other options before your child with ADHD goes off to college. 

Parents: The Unwitting Distributers of Controlled Substances? How are those on college campuses getting Ritalin without a prescription?  Two ways:  Those kids who are diagnosed and prescribed the ADHD drugs are selling it. This is how the majority of ADHD drugs are distributed on college campuses.  However, some people are stealing prescriptions and selling them.  This is what you want to consider while your child is in high school as you prepare him to go to college.  He is a potential ADHD drug distributor.

Cogmed should be a part of your long term strategy.

As I noted earlier I found what I consider to be a better long term strategy to address the problem of inattention:  Cogmed.  Note that I did not say a solution to the problem of ADHD or ADD.  ADHD also includes hyperactivity and Cogmed has had impact on this area, but it is not as well established and consistent as its impact on attention.  So, Cogmed does not make this claim.  Nor does Cogmed make the claim that it ‘cures’ ADD.  Such claims are easy to assault.  Cogmed makes the claim, supported by placebo controlled, double blind studies that have found 80% of its users have improved significantly in working memory and working memory is related to attention.    So attention is improved as well.  Get the logic?  One other thing independent investigators have found the same results as the founders of Cogmed, 80% of the people who complete the program are significantly better on paying attention. 

The key here is that Cogmed is an alternative which may be included with ADHD medicine or not, but it is a viable, reasonable and comparatively financially appealing alternative.  Cogmed is not a drug. It is not a controlled substance.  Cogmed’s results compel you to complete their program to improve your working memory – especially before you go to college. So at least you can see the impact it has and then make your decisions about how to proceed.  Doing the Cogmed program requires work and effort.  It affects brain functioning.  As such, people who use this program also make the connection that effort and work affect their ability to pay attention instead of simply popping a pill.  This work and effort involve doing this very specific set of activities that Cogmed’s founders discovered through thorough research.  This is very noteworthy.  It is not simply work and effort on anything with any program with any computer program that will address this issue.  Cogmed has done systematic double blind, placebo controlled studies over the course of a decade that have shown it to be an effective program.  Independent investigators have gotten the same results.  Good luck finding any other programs with those credentials. I know I’ve looked myself.  Again, Cogmed is careful not to claim to replace medication for ADHD or to be a cure for ADHD.  However, it is a way to train attention.  You may or may not have a child taking ADHD medications as well doing Cogmed at the same time.  This is an alternative you should consider seriously.
Go to my website: www.charlesshinaver.com to learn more about Cogmed. The kids who abuse ADHD medicines for performance enhancement is just one group of ADHD medication abusers. There is another group of kids that abuse these drugs. To learn more about them in later blog posts……
1Performance enhancing, non-prescription use of Ritalin: A comparison with amphetamines and cocaine. Svetlov, Stanislav I.; Kobeissy, Firas H.; Gold, Mark S. Journal of Addictive Diseases. Vol 26(4),2007, 1-6.

Dr. Charles Shinaver

Located in Carmel, Indiana near Indianapolis, Noblesville, Fishers, Zionsville, and Westfield.

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 Clarity4Health.com               Cogmed Working Memory Training^TM

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371-641-7794, clarity4health@gmail.com